Nyburg: Noam Chomsky
doesn't exude sex appeal
Continued from page 7
the human inner life.
It’s not just religion that they
talk about, but also politics, which
is another topic that apparently
actors and musicians seem to be
well-informed about. Every elec
tion cycle we have to suffer
through egotistical dickheads such
as Sean Penn blabbering about
their latest views on the American
government. Celebrities are invit
ed to speak at rallies and splatter
their opinions all across the media
landscape, doing nothing but
dumb down the general tone of
debate. Just once I would like to
have every political party invite
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serious, thoughtful political com
mentators to come and give calm,
informative speeches about the
merits of whatever side they’re
on. But that won’t happen be
cause Noam Chomsky’s ass does
n’t move like Jennifer Aniston’s
(well, I suppose we can be grate
ful for that).
Alright, time to calm down.
Have a seat, drink some chai
tea and take a deep breath. It
might be good to get out of here in
a few weeks. Maybe I’ll live longer
once I can get my blood pressure
back down.
ryannyburg@ dailyemerald. com
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■ CD review
Girlyman can't dodge the
'Punches'from superior album
World Leader Pretend proves its ability to construct pop
music on its sophomore album, while "Little Star" crashes
BY RYAN NYBURG
PULSE EDITOR
The difference between good
songwriting and bad songwriting is
a fine one. Something either works
or it doesn’t; there is very little mid
dle ground.
On one end of the scale is the lat
est from Girlyman, “Little Star,” an
album by a group that apparently
wants to be the next Nickel Creek.
That’s a a pretty low standard, and
the fact that they don’t meet it
should give you an idea of the
depths of mediocrity this band has
reached.
Playing a simple form of folk
£
adorned with some mildly creative
instrumentation, the band sings
songs about relationships, 1950s tel
evision stars, politics and other top
ics that should be interesting but
end up sounding banal in the hands
of this boring group of people.
The lyrics are often creative and
pleasant enough, which is a shame
because they are sung in dull, even
tones with flat melodies that rarely
evoke any sense of passion or joy.
That the group rotates lead vocal
duties between three singers but
still can’t strike an interesting note
speaks to some fatal flaw in the con
struction of its music. Nothing is
sung with any immediacy and no
-- interest is
evei luuseu.
The only
time the
group really
gets active is
during some
of the politi
cal material,
particularly
“Comman
der,” which
is a rather
scathing cri
tique of
George W.
Bush. But
the high
points only
make the
low ones
clearer and
more painful to sit through. It’s a
boring album by
a group that should probably
expand its range a little before its
next outing.
Now for something that works:
The New Orleans-based band World
Leader Pretend traffics in an ornate,
meticulously constructed style of
pop music that is both immediately
catchy while also being deeply lay
ered. It is fun the first time while
also improving with repeat listens.
Its sophomore effort, “Punches,” is
a complex, well-crafted pop album
of the type not often seen since the
Cure was still the bee’s knees
among disaffected youths.
No one’s going to end up
disaffected by this though. Opening
with a song that sounds like
a remixed track from R.E.M.’s
recent catalog (the only time on the
album that the band resembles
the group from which they drew
their name) the band begins layer
ing the music, turning songs that
start out simple enough into com
plex, Brian Wilson-ish pop beasts.
New melodies and rhythms are
added continuously, causing some
songs to be recast in a new light
every few seconds.
It’s a lot to absorb in a single sit
ting, but every listen reveals some
thing new. This gives the album a
shelf-life only the greats can accom
plish. The music also avoids the
cliches and easy nostalgia of some
modern pop music, remaining origi
nal and inventive on its own terms.
Great album. Go buy it.
ryannyb urg@ dailyemerald. com
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Hollywood meets its box
office match in Hong Kong
HONG KONG —Darth Vader, An
gelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are feeling
the heat at the box office from an un
usual rival: a movie based on a
Japanese comic book, directed by
Hong Kongers and starring a Tai
wanese pop star making his debut in
the movies.
“Initial D,” the story of a young
street car racer, has stunned “Star
Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the
Sith” and the action thriller “Mr. and
Mrs. Smith,” starring Jolie and Pitt, at
the Hong Kong box office.
The movie grossed $3.6 million
over 10 days. By comparison, the lat
est Star Wars installment has made
just $2.4 million over 46 days. “Mr.
and Mrs. Smith” fared better, earning
$2.8 million in 25 days.
"Initial D," filmed in Japan, is a
testament to the far reach of Japan
ese popular culture and marks a
unique cultural cross-pollination.
Some of the Chinese entertainment
industry’s top creative talent teamed
up to bring the work of Japanese
comic artist Shuichi Shigeno to life.
At the helm are Andrew Lau and
Alan Mak — the directing duo be
hind the acclaimed Hong Kong police
thriller “Infernal Affairs,” which is
being remade into a Hollywood film
directed by Martin Scorsese and star
ring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Leading the cast is Asian pop sen
sation Jay Chou, a singer-songwriter
and one of Chinese-language music
industry’s biggest names.
Rounding out the cast are veteran
Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong, lo
cal heartthrobs Edison Chen and
Shawn Yue and singers Jordan Chan
and Kenny Bee. Japanese actress
Anne Suzuki plays Fujiwara's class
mate and love interest, Natsuki Mogi.
—The Associated Press
l
fashion
that
pays to
be me